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Yes, you read that correctly. According to British car magazine Car, the Audi Quattro coupe concept has been shelved in favor of a high performance crossover. The Quattro coupe seemed like a no brainer (to us, anyway), but the report suggests Audi can no longer justify the cost of bringing the concept to production — in its current form.

Slotting roughly between the R8 and RS5, the Quattro coupe would have likely received a version of the TT-RS’s inline-five cylinder engine, but tuned to produce over 400 hp. We had an opportunity to drive the concept shortly after it was unveiled in 2010 and were impressed with its super light curb weight of about 2870 pounds, thanks to generous use of aluminum and composite materials.

Instead, Audi is confident a Quattro-inspired performance-oriented two-door crossover (like the Range Rover Evoque) would appeal to more buyers. Car points out Audi’s onslaught of high-performance crossovers including the diesel-powered SQ5 TDI (with a 313-hp, 479 lb-ft twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6) and the RS Q3 concept unveiled earlier this year. A “Q-coupe” could fit in Audi’s lineup above the TT RS but below the R8.

Audi has big plans for its Q lineup including the addition of even-number models. As Automobile previously reported, the Q3, Q5, and Q7 will become the brand’s “rugged” models, adopting many of the design touches we’ve seen on past and current Allroad models. Meanwhile, and all-new Q2, Q4, Q6, and Q8 will be sleeker crossovers. Though it’s unclear which of these new Audi crossovers we’ll see in the U.S., the new Q7 is expected to debut in 2014. Then there’s the rumored Audi A3 Vario, a high-roof family-focused variant based on the new A3 four-door hatchback. The car, whose final name has yet to be determined, would cost about $3000 more than the A3 hatchback and have about as much interior space as the A4 wagon. A longer wheelbase may be a necessity, since Audi wants to offer a third row for this A3 Vario, which may not come to our shores.

It’s unknown where the Quattro crossover fits into all of this, but if that niche-buster makes it to production, the Audi should be good news for fans of high-riding performance crossovers. Those who hoped for a successor to the original Quattro will have to make do with the RS5 coupe.

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